Federation of the Lefts
Encyclopedia
The Federation of the Lefts was a French electoral coalition during the French Third Republic
founded in January 1914 by members of the Democratic Republican Alliance
such Aristide Briand
, Alexandre Millerand
and Louis Barthou
to provide a centrist alternative to the left's coalition, led by the Radical-Socialist Joseph Caillaux
. However, the federation failed to attract the most moderate Radical voters and the left won the 1914 election
which saw the centre fall back. The Federation was a failure.
However, a parliamentary group under the name Republican, Radical and Radical-Socialist Union (Union républicaine radicale et radicale-socialiste) was formed in the new legislature and held a relatively important position in the legislature.
French Third Republic
The French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France...
founded in January 1914 by members of the Democratic Republican Alliance
Democratic Republican Alliance
The Democratic Republican Alliance was a French political party created in 1901 by followers of Léon Gambetta, such as Raymond Poincaré who would be president of the Council in the 1920s...
such Aristide Briand
Aristide Briand
Aristide Briand was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic and received the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.- Early life :...
, Alexandre Millerand
Alexandre Millerand
Alexandre Millerand was a French socialist politician. He was President of France from 23 September 1920 to 11 June 1924 and Prime Minister of France 20 January to 23 September 1920...
and Louis Barthou
Louis Barthou
Jean Louis Barthou was a French politician of the Third Republic.-Early years:He was born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and served as Deputy from that constituency. He was an authority on trade union history and law. Barthou was Prime Minister in 1913, and held ministerial office...
to provide a centrist alternative to the left's coalition, led by the Radical-Socialist Joseph Caillaux
Joseph Caillaux
Joseph-Marie–Auguste Caillaux was a major French politician of the Third Republic. The leader of the Radicals, he favored a policy of conciliation with Germany during his premiership from 1911 to 1912, which led to the maintenance of the peace during the Second Moroccan Crisis of 1911...
. However, the federation failed to attract the most moderate Radical voters and the left won the 1914 election
French legislative election, 1914
The 1914 general elections were held on 26 April and 10 May 1914, months before the outbreak of the First World War. The left won a landslide victory, though the entirety of the chambers, from Catholics to socialists united during World War I to form the Union sacrée.-Popular Vote:-Parliamentary...
which saw the centre fall back. The Federation was a failure.
However, a parliamentary group under the name Republican, Radical and Radical-Socialist Union (Union républicaine radicale et radicale-socialiste) was formed in the new legislature and held a relatively important position in the legislature.
See also
- Democratic Republican AllianceDemocratic Republican AllianceThe Democratic Republican Alliance was a French political party created in 1901 by followers of Léon Gambetta, such as Raymond Poincaré who would be president of the Council in the 1920s...
- SinistrismeSinistrismeSinistrisme is a neologism invented by Albert Thibaudet in Les idées politiques de la France . He referred to the progressive substitution of left wing parties by new, more radical parties, which in turn pushed each party towards the center Sinistrisme is a neologism invented by Albert Thibaudet in...